SAP Connected Car: The New In-vehicle Mobility Service from SAP

SAP and automobile giant BMW had made their announcement of vehicle mobility system way back in 2014. SAP in 2016 Mobile World Congress progressed this even further to make connected car a reality. Teaming up with Spanish automaker SEAT and Samsung Electronics a new concept of the connected car has been unveiled at the event.

To show how 3 leading companies in their respective industries have collaborated together to offer a future-ready driving experience, there was sporty SEAT Leon X-perience in display at the SAP stand. The demonstration for the time being only showcased two different interaction scenarios, respectively as Digital Key and Park & Pay. This new vehicle mobility system being backed by SAP HANA cloud system will bring drivers a set of highly personalized services as per their current location and route. In a way this was a significant step towards the connected car of the future.

The connected car of the future will be equipped to offer many services. For example, when going out for shopping, an app on the screen of the on-board car computer can make offer of discount vouchers, reservation in parking spots, etc. In many other ways app ecosystem for vehicles can make your car connected to all other digital interfaces. This new mobility system for cars is a step forward to materialize the connected car into reality.

Why SAP connected cars are important?

For many reasons, the connected car will be a giant step to boost driving experience and make things easier while driving, fuelling or parking the car. As per latest estimates, a whopping $577 billion are spent by US consumers on fueling, in buying fast food while driving and for parking. While all of these activities concerning a car are important, it shows the huge untapped potential for services to reach drivers through a vehicle mobility interface. Now, by allowing the app ecosystem for this new platform, automotive companies can monetize all connected services opening lock gate of revenues for them and other related services.

Thanks to this new on-board system drivers can easily be directed to the nearest gas station. This will also help in automating the mobile payment process through the handheld device or on-board dashboard car computer. On the other hand, service providers can send contextual push notifications with promotional offers on the basis of vehicle location data and user profile. This will easily allow more cross-selling opportunities for automobile services.

‘Uber of parking and refueling’–is the epithet correct for SAP?

SAP connected car is earning the epithet ‘Uber of parking and refueling. The epithet is true as the company deserves credit for creating a new marketplace of automobile services with its new on-board mobility system.

At present it has just been demonstrated on a Ford Mustang. The new technology is still not commercially marketed as a product. SAP has only created the platform for the car makers to integrate it in their future cars. Let us have a look at how the system works actually.

Thanks to this system when your car approaches a car parking, the hourly rate for the parking will be displayed. Now opting for the parking lot by tapping on a button, you will know whether spaces are available and the parking barrier will open and at the same time the clock on your parking time will start. In case, there is no available space, the system’s navigation will direct you to other car parking lots with available space and will guide the driver for taking the shortest and most efficient route.

When you return to your car all you need to do is to drive to the exit, tap another dashboard button and the parking lot barrier opens. As for paying the charge, the pre-registered credit card makes it. For the charge debited you get an onscreen receipt, as it happens with Uber cars.

In the similar way the refueling is taken care of by this new car mobility system. Just arrive in the pump, refuel your vehicle and it automatically deduct the charges from your card while you just drive away without paying anything from purse. As the car is already loaded with the driver’s basic information and payment details, you do not need to be concerned of manually paying for the services.

Developed at the Palo Alto labs of SAP, this new connected car system is still at its nascent state and will only show scopes of further improvement once integrated into various car models. In any way, the integration of such systems in vehicles will add value to the driving experience and help creating an app marketplace for connected services.

How SAP HANA works with BMW?

The cloud based HANA system from SAP will be incorporated in BMW cars to provide drivers all needful information like availability of nearby parking services, gas stations and outlets for food and drink. It is expected that the externally sourced information aggregated within the virtual marketplace of SAP HANA cloud platform, can actually lead to offering more personalized and contextual service offers to the drivers.

Real time targeted offers

The personalized and contextual offers destined to be made to the car drivers can be displayed as promotional coupons and they will be further contextualized as per the location of the driver. For example, while driving if you are near a coffee shop, this on-board mobility system by tracking your GPS location can offer you some vouchers for that coffee shop. You can further set the frequency of such promotional messages with offers as sometimes you can feel them distracting for the concentration as well.

Parking spots

Often finding a safe parking spot requires a nightmarish ordeal for drivers in many cities. This new in-vehicle mobility service from SAP can be a great value addition for any car in this respect. Knowing the available parking spots nearby is a great help and furthermore it will always guide the drivers to reach one spot from another.